This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

Human Q fever, a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, presents with diverse clinical manifestations ranging from mild self-limited febrile illnesses to life-threatening complications such as endocarditis or vascular infection. Although acute Q fever is a benign illness with a low mortality rate, a large-scale outbreak of Q fever in the Netherlands led to concerns about the possibility of blood transfusion-related transmission or obstetric complications in pregnant women. Furthermore, a small minority (< 5%) of patients with asymptomatic or symptomatic infection progress to chronic Q fever. Chronic Q fever is fatal in 5–50% of patients if left untreated. In South Korea, Q fever in humans was designated as a notifiable infectious disease in 2006, and the number of Q fever cases has increased sharply since 2015. Nonetheless, it is still considered a neglected and under-recognized infectious disease. In this review, recent trends of human and animal Q fever in South Korea, and public health concerns regarding Q fever outbreaks are reviewed, and we consider how a One Health approach could be applied as a preventive measure to prepare for zoonotic Q fever outbreaks.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of totally thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: From February 2012 to May 2020, 460 patients who underwent TTA were classified into two groups: CA (presence of RFCA history, n = 74) and nCA groups (absence of RFCA history, n = 386). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses were used to adjust for confounders. The primary endpoint was freedom from the composite of AF, typical atrial flutter, atypical atrial flutter and any atrial tachyarrhythmia, lasting more than 30 seconds during the follow-up. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months via electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Results: Bilateral pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was conducted in all patients and the conduction block tests were confirmed. In the CA group, difficult PVI occasionally occurred due to structural changes, such as pericardial adhesion and fibrosis of the pulmonary venous structure, caused by a previous catheter ablation. Early complications such as stroke and pacemaker insertion were not different between the two groups. The normal sinus rhythm was maintained in 70.1% (317/460) patients after a median follow-up period of 38.1 months.The IPTW-weighted Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that freedom from AF events at 5 years was 68.4% (95% confidence interval, 62.8–74.5) in the nCA group and 31.2% (95% confidence interval, 16.9–57.5) in the CA group (P < 0.001). In IPTW-weighted Cox regression, preoperative left atrial diameter, persistent or long-standing AF, the presence of congestive heart failure and catheter ablation history were associated with AF events. Conclusion Patients in the CA group showed a higher recurrence rate of AF than those in the nCA group, while TTA was safely performed in both the groups.

Background: Early-onset dementia (EOD) is still insufficiently considered for healthcare policies. We investigated the effect of socio-environmental factors on the long-term survival of patients with EOD. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized the Korean National Health Insurance Database from 2007 to 2018. We enrolled 3,825 patients aged 40 to 65 years old with all types of dementia newly diagnosed in 2009 as EOD cases. We defined socioeconomic status using the national health insurance premium (NHIP) levels. Residential areas were classified into capital, metropolitan, city, and county levels. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were employed. Further, Cox-proportional hazards models were established. Results: The mean survival of the fourth NHIP level group was 96.31 ± 1.20 months, whereas that of the medical-aid group was 85.53 ± 1.30 months (P < 0.001). The patients living in the capital had a mean survival of 95.73 ± 1.34 months, whereas those living in the county had 89.66 ± 1.75 months (P = 0.035). In the Cox-proportional hazards model, the medical-aid (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.67; P < 0.001), first NHIP level (aHR, 1.26; P = 0.012), and second NHIP level (aHR, 1.26; P = 0.008) groups were significantly associated with a higher long-term mortality risk. The capital residents exhibited a significantly lower long-term mortality risk than did the county residents (aHR, 0.82; P = 0.041). Conclusion Socioeconomic status and residential area are associated with long-term survival in patients with EOD. This study provides a rational basis for establishing a healthcare policy for patients with EOD.

Background: The efficacy of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains suboptimal. A hybrid approach of catheter ablation combined with totally thoracoscopic surgical ablation can improve outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the early staged hybrid procedure in hospital stay after totally thoracoscopic ablation compared to the stand-alone totally thoracoscopic ablation. Methods: Patients who underwent totally thoracoscopic ablation from February 2012 to December 2018 were included in this study. We compared the outcomes of the totally thoracoscopic ablation only group versus the early staged hybrid procedure group. The primary outcome was recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia after three months of blanking period. The secondary outcome was repeated unplanned additional electrophysiology study and catheter ablation due to atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence. Results: A total of 306 patients (mean age, 56.8 ± 8.5 years; 278 [90.8%] males) was included in the study, with 81 patients in the early staged hybrid group and 225 patients in the standalone totally thoracoscopic ablation only group. The mean follow-up duration was 30.0 months. Overall arrhythmia-free survival showed no significant difference between the two groups (log-rank P = 0.402). There was no significant difference in the rate of repeat procedure between the two groups (log-rank = 0.11). Conclusion The early staged hybrid procedure after thoracoscopic ablation could not improve the outcome of recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia. The second stage of electrophysiology study could be deferred to patients with recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia during follow up after totally thoracoscopic ablation.

Purpose: The threshold levels for symptom development of pollinosis vary among studies and countries. This study aimed to determine currently used threshold levels for it. Methods: Oak, pine, Japanese hop, and ragweed pollen samples were collected daily for 8 years from the Seoul and Guri areas. A total of 792 subjects with allergy to these pollens were recruited. The symptom index (SI) was assessed through telephone interviews and allergy questionnaires, and data were analyzed using decision tree. Results: The risk index for oak pollen allergy was “mild” when the pollen count was 0–2 grains/m3 , “moderate” when it was 3–11 grains/m3 , “severe” when it was 12–28 grains/m3 , and “dangerous” when it was ≥ 29 grains/m3 . The risk level for pine pollen allergy was “mild” when the pollen count was 0–4 grains/m 3 , “moderate” when it was 5–42 grains/m3 , “severe” when it was 43–66 grains/m3 , and “dangerous” when it was ≥ 67 grains/m3 . For Japanese hop pollen allergy, the risk level was “mild” when the pollen count was 0–8 grains/m3 , “moderate” when it was 9–10 grains/m3 , “severe” when it was 11–19 grains/m3 , and “dangerous” when it was ≥ 20 grains/m3 . Finally, for ragweed, the risk level was “mild” when the pollen count was 0–1 grains/m3 , “moderate” when it was 2–6 grains/m3 , “severe” when it was 7–33 grains/m3 , and “dangerous” when it was ≥ 34 grains/m3 . Conclusions Revising the threshold levels for the risk index for pollen allergies may be useful for developing pollen prediction models for patients with pollen allergies in Korea.